West Bengal Tables UCC Bill in Assembly Today

BJP Calls It End of 'Appeasement Politics'

Report By Y-Trendz

Kolkata | June 29, 2026

In one of the most significant legislative moves since the BJP swept to power in West Bengal, the West Bengal government is set to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state Legislative

Assembly on Monday, June 29, marking a decisive step toward implementing a common civil law across the state. The introduction fulfils a central promise made by the party during its historic election campaign, and comes less than two months after the BJP ended the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule over the state.

A Promise Kept — Within the Deadline

The BJP had promised to introduce a Uniform Civil Code within six months of forming the government in West Bengal. The commitment featured prominently in the party's election manifesto and was presented as a major governance reform aimed at ensuring equality before the law.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed the government's decision on Friday, June 26, saying that the UCC would be implemented following due legal procedures on the lines followed by Gujarat and Assam. The matter was discussed and finalised in a Business Advisory Committee meeting held in the Assembly on Thursday evening.

West Bengal Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay stated that the bill's introduction fulfils a commitment outlined in the ruling party's manifesto. "We had clearly stated our position on the UCC in our manifesto. On the 29th, we will introduce the UCC in the Bengal Legislative Assembly, pass it, and ensure Bengal joins the club of states that have enacted the UCC," he told ANI.

What the Bill Proposes

The proposed legislation is expected to bring all citizens under a common set of civil laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, property rights, adoption, and certain family-related matters, regardless of religion.

The UCC implemented in the state is likely to be similar to the Assam UCC Bill passed in May 2026. Based on that model, the Bill is expected to set the marriageable age for men at 21 and for women at 18, require all marriages to be registered with the sub-registrar within two months, and prohibit bigamy and polygamy with up to seven years of imprisonment for violations. Live-in relationships would need to be registered within a month, and children born out of such unions would be considered legitimate. Women deserted by live-in partners can claim maintenance. Irrespective of religion, the bill provides for gender-neutral and uniform succession rights to spouses, children, and parents.

A major focus of the proposed legislation is gender equality. According to the framework discussed by BJP leaders, women would receive equal legal rights in matters related to inheritance, property ownership, and succession — provisions that supporters argue could help remove legal disparities arising under different personal law systems.

Bengal Joins a Growing List of BJP-Ruled States

Uttarakhand passed the UCC law in February 2024 and became the first state in independent India to have a UCC. It was followed by Gujarat in March 2026 and Assam in May 2026. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has signalled plans to introduce the bill in the upcoming monsoon session, while Maharashtra is considering a committee-led study under a retired High Court judge before proceeding.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla welcomed the move, declaring that the politics of appeasement has completely ended in West Bengal and that the state will join the list of BJP-ruled states in bringing parity in citizens' rights.

Numbers on the BJP's Side

To pass the bill, BJP will need the support of a majority of MLAs present and voting — more than 50 per cent. In the current 294-member Assembly, 207 seats are with the BJP, 65 are with the rebel bloc of the Trinamool Congress led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, while the Mamata Banerjee faction of TMC holds only 15 MLAs, and other smaller parties together hold 7. Deputy Chief Minister Dilip Ghosh reinforced the government's confidence, saying the bill is "bound to be passed" as similar legislation has already been cleared in multiple other states.

Opposition Mounts Resistance

The move has drawn sharp pushback from the opposition. At a strategy meeting with party legislators and senior leaders on Friday, TMC chairperson and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed the party to mount an aggressive resistance to the Bill inside and outside the Assembly, arguing that the proposal raises larger questions about constitutional morality, social consent, and India's plural character.

Senior TMC leaders have accused the BJP of attempting to use the legislation as a political instrument rather than pursuing genuine legal reform, with one senior leader questioning whether the UCC is genuinely being brought for the welfare of citizens or as an instrument of political polarisation.

The TMC also called for greater consultation with all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups and Adivasi communities. Questions have also been raised about whether tribal communities in Bengal will receive exemptions similar to those granted under the Assam model, which shielded indigenous communities to preserve their customary laws.

CM Adhikari's Broader Vision

Launching a sharp attack on the TMC, CM Adhikari alleged that the previous government promoted appeasement, corruption and nepotism, and pushed the state backwards. He claimed that nationalism and patriotism were never on the previous government's agenda, and that with a nationalist government now in power, "everything will be done."

Alongside the UCC Bill, the BJP government will also table the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-social Activities Bill, 2026, which aims to prevent rioting and damage to public property. Under that bill, offenders can be subjected to up to 12 months of preventive detention.

As the Assembly convenes Monday morning, Bengal stands at a pivotal legislative crossroads — one that will test the BJP's mandate, reshape the state's legal landscape, and set the tone for the ideological battles of a new political era in one of India's most complex and historically contested states.

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Report compiled from PTI, ANI, Republic World, The Week, and government sources.